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Washington State Developing Best Practices to Address Sea-Level Rise

Acknowledging that rising sea levels are a major concern for waterfront cities in Washington, the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) non-profit put together a review of the current policy and planning efforts to meet the challenge.

"In Washington State, sea level projections estimate a middle range rise of about 2.6 inches by 2030, about 6.5 inches by 2050, and about 24 inches by 2100," reports Carol Tobin. In response to the expected impacts of the rising water level along the state's Pacific Ocean coastline and around Puget Sound, many communities have already begun planning for the inevitable.

A few examples of the Washington communities that have begun to factor sea level change into their comprehensive planning and public works programming, as shared by Tobin:

"Olympia has studied the impacts of sea level rise on the downtown and infrastructure and has been working to address inundation of Budd Inlet and Capitol Lake shorelines and pipe backflow flooding. Sea level rise is addressed in the city’s recently adopted shoreline master program and in the current comprehensive plan update."

"Seattle has mapped areas that are most vulnerable to sea level rise. King County has assessed the vulnerability of major wastewater facilities to flooding from sea level rise and has included adaptation policies in its Strategic Climate Action Plan (2012)."

"The Gorst Watershed Subarea Plan, prepared by Bremerton and Kitsap County, recommends adaptation measures to account for sea level rise in the design of buildings and impervious areas, as well as roadway, flood management, and utility facilities."

Before concluding with a call to action, the article also lists planning tools, regulatory approaches, spending ideas, and leadership opportunities for how communities can begin preparing for sea level rise.